Junus Ellison,28, of North Plainfield, is facing three counts of attempted murder of three Plainfield detectives, all first degree crimes,following a gun battle with police through residential neighborhoods.(Photo: ~Courtesy of Union County Prosecutor's Office)

PLAINFIELD - A 28-year-old North Plainfield man is facing three counts of attempted murder of three Plainfield detectives, all first degree crimes, following a Wednesday night gun battle with police through residential neighborhoods.

Besides attempted murder, Junus Ellison has been charged with one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of possession of a large capacity magazine, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan said Thursday.

Ellison is currently being housed in the Union County Jail in Elizabeth pending a pretrial detention hearing.

According to Monahan, a preliminary investigation indicates that around 10 p.m. Wednesday three Plainfield Police Division detectives were traveling in a vehicle on the 200 block of Pond Place when they heard gunshots and they responded to the area of the shots.

As they arrived in the area of Stanley and West Fourth Streets, the detectives spotted Ellison, who was wearing all black clothing, turn toward the detectives and fire numerous rounds from a handgun into their vehicle, officials said.

The three detectives got out of the vehicle and took cover as Ellison fled on foot.

Monahan said one of the detectives chased Ellison on foot through yards and parking lots for several blocks while Ellison repeatedly fired at the detective. The detective returned fire while being shot at. Neither Ellison nor the detective was struck by the gunfire.

Ellison was apprehended by other responding officers a short while later. A handgun with a large capacity magazine was recovered during a search of one of the yards used during Ellison's path of flight. A large number of shell casing also were recovered, Plainfield police said.

Monahan said a man who was shot and injured was found in the area where the detectives had first heard the initial gunshots. The man is being treated for his injuries and the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

The Prosecutor’s Office’s Shooting Response Team is continuing to investigate the incident with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office Identification Unit and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit.

The investigation is being conducted in strict accordance with New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Directive 2006-5 and the July 28, 2015 supplemental directive, which govern all investigations into use of deadly force by law enforcement.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective David Nechamkin at 908-527-4933.